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A national inquiry is underway in Australia into the issues surrounding the uses and protection of human genetic information. Conducted jointly by the Australian Law Reform Commission and the Australian Health Ethics Committee, the inquiry is investigating the range of opinion in Australia as to what uses of human genetic information are ethically acceptable, whether there is any evidence of inappropriate use at present, the potential for medical benefits from the use of genetic information, the international and trans-national dimensions of research in this area, whether there is a need for a national regulatory framework for genetic information, and the implications of a recent decision to implement a national health information network. The inquiry will report to the Australian Government in June 2002.